6 Privacy Settings You Should Change on Instagram Right Now

Simple Fixes for a Safer Scroll Instagram’s constant updates bring new features—and new privacy concerns. Hidden data tracking, unwanted DMs, and public visibility can put your personal information at risk. Adjusting just a few key settings can help safeguard your identity and make your experience more secure.

Make Your Account Private Keep your posts and stories visible only to people you trust. Go to Settings > Privacy > Account Privacy > Private Account and switch it on. Making your account private blocks strangers and bots from viewing or misusing your photos and personal details.

Control Who Can Message You Stop unwanted messages before they start. Under Settings > Privacy > Messages, choose ‘Only people you follow.’ This setting keeps your inbox safe from scams, spam, and random DMs, ensuring only trusted contacts can reach you or add you to groups.

Hide Your Activity Status Instagram displays when you’re online or recently active. Turn this off via Settings > Privacy > Messages & Story Replies > Show Activity Status. Disabling it adds a layer of privacy, so others can’t monitor your activity or pressure you to respond instantly.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Strengthen your security with 2FA by visiting Settings > Security > Two-Factor Authentication. Choose SMS or an authenticator app for verification. Even if someone steals your password, this extra layer of protection keeps your account and personal information secure from hackers.

Limit Tracking and Permissions Instagram collects location and contact data to personalize ads and recommendations. In your phone’s app settings, disable unnecessary permissions, and in Accounts Center > Your Information & Permissions, clear tracking activity. Reducing data sharing limits profiling and keeps your digital footprint smaller.

Manage Tags, Mentions, and Discoverability Control who can tag or mention you by visiting Settings > Privacy > Tags & Mentions. Turn on ‘Manually Approve Tags’ and restrict mentions to trusted users. Adjust discoverability settings to stop your account from being recommended to strangers, preserving your online boundaries.

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